FAQ:
GENERAL
FAQs
Bowel ultrasound, also known as intestinal ultrasound (IUS), applies traditional abdominal ultrasound techniques to visualise the bowel wall and surrounding structures. It is safe, quick, non-invasive and requires no preparation. This makes is very acceptable from a patient perspective.
Bowel ultrasound can assess the small bowel (ileum) and most parts of the large bowel (colon) apart from the rectum (last 15cm). Bowel ultrasound can identify abnormalities such as thickening of the bowel wall and increased blood flow both of which may reflect bowel inflammation. It can also identify complications of Crohn’s disease such as strictures or fistulae. These findings can be useful in assisting with diagnoses, informing medical management and/or directing further investigations.
A bowel ultrasound can take anywhere from 10-20 minutes, but may take even longer in the setting of prior bowel surgery, or complex Crohn’s disease.
Melbourne Bowel Ultrasound offers bowel ultrasound services on weekdays and Saturdays. We are currently able to offer a no-gap service on weekdays. A co-payment may be charged on Saturdays to cover additional costs.
DOCTOR
FAQs
As a low-risk non-invasive investigation that is well tolerated and requires no preparation, bowel ultrasound has broad utility and is suitable for most patients.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
Bowel ultrasound can be particularly useful in evaluating response to therapy and monitoring disease activity in patients with IBD because it can be easily and acceptably repeated at short intervals. It can also be used to evaluate segments of the small bowel not easily visualised during standard colonoscopy. Bowel ultrasound is also frequently used in conjunction with other non-invasive investigations such as faecal calprotectin to help differentiate between IBD and IBS symptoms.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Abdominal ultrasound represents one of the most frequently requested investigations in patients with gastrointestinal complaints. In fact, it is requested in more than 50% of patients with IBS symptoms because it is non-invasive, inexpensive, and widely available. Abdominal ultrasound is useful in ruling out liver and gallbladder causes of abdominal pain, but does not routinely include assessment of the bowel. Hence, a focused bowel ultrasound may represent a complementary non-invasive investigation to standard abdominal ultrasound. Although bowel ultrasound does not routinely replace the need for a colonoscopy, it may provide complementary information to help differentiate between IBS and other organic diseases including IBD. Unfortunately, bowel ultrasound does not provide diagnostic features of IBS, but may help support your clinical diagnosis of IBS.
Our team would also be happy to be contacted if you would like to discuss the suitability of bowel ultrasound for any other indications.
Here are 3 easy ways to refer your patient for a bowel ultrasound
- Submit an online referral; OR
- Download, complete and email through your referral; OR
- Copy Melbourne Bowel Ultrasound into your correspondence
PATIENT
FAQs
No you do NOT need to fast before your bowel ultrasound
- An SMS (text message) reminder will be sent up to 48 hours before your scheduled ultrasound.
- Please confirm that you will be attending by replying to the SMS (text message).
- If you are a new patient, please complete the new patient registration form
- Medicare card
- Recent bowel investigations (e.g. colonoscopy or MRI reports) may be helpful if you have complex Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis
DOCTOR
FAQs
As a low-risk non-invasive investigation, that is well tolerated and requires no preparation, bowel ultrasound has broad utility and is suitable for most patients. It can also be used to evaluate segments of the small bowel not easily visualised during standard colonoscopy.
Bowel ultrasound is particularly useful in monitoring disease activity in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) because it can be easily and acceptably repeated at short intervals. It is frequently used in conjunction with other non-invasive investigations such as faecal calprotectin, to help you differentiate between IBD and IBS.
Our team would be happy to be contacted if you would like to discuss the suitability of bowel ultrasound for your patient.
Here are 3 easy ways to refer your patient for a bowel ultrasound
- Submit an online referral; OR
- Download, complete and email through your referral; OR
- Copy Melbourne Bowel Ultrasound into your correspondence